Squirrel-poisoning machine



(No Model.)

SQUIRREL POISONING MACHINE.

No. 406,909. Patented July 16, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIE J. IIOIVARD, OF MARIPOSA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN W. FARMER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SQUlRREL-POISONING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,909, dated July 16, 1889.

Applicationfiled January '7, 1889. Serial No. 295,702. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIE J. HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mariposa, in the county of Mariposa and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Squirrel-Poisoning Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thcreon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists in a certain construction of a hand-machine for discharging poisoned wheat in regular doses into the ground nests of squirrels and other rodents infesting grain-fields.

To more fully explain my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, in which the figure is a vertical perspective view.

A represents the bowl or upper portion of the magazine of the machine, of which A is the cover, and the bail.

A is a dischargingpipe leading from the bowl A and having attached at the end a spring-dischargcr 13, which is operated by a spring mechanism composed of a spring E, attached at one end to the pipe A and at the other end to a lever 0, having a triangularshaped head, which forms a guard, and is attached at its lower end to the spring-gate of the discharger l3, and is connected with the bail A within easy reach of the operators hand by a cord or wire D passing through guides to upon the pipe A and bowl A, and is flexibly secured to a handling-lever F, having its fulcrum on the bail A The triangular-shaped head on the level" 0 by striking the tube A will hold said lever in such position as to readily yield to the action of the spring when pressure has been removed from the lever F.

To operate the machine, the bowl A and pipe A are filled with the poisoned wheat. The operator may then on horseback or lowwheel vehicle ride rapidly from hole to hole inhabited by the rodents and discharge regular quantities of the poisoned wheat into each. Ileretofore it has been. usual for the farmer to walk about the field infected by the rodents carrying a bucket of poisoned Wheat and to use a small measure for the purpose of dropping it. My invention, therefore, saves much time, besides facilitating the measuring of the proper doses, as the spring-discharger B,which is of the pattern usually employed on shot and powder pouches may be furnished with adjustable gates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is The improved device described, consisting of the bowl having a converging bottom, the discharge-spout leading from said bottom, the spring-pressed gates at the lower end of the tube, the bail secured to the bowl, the hand-lever pivoted to the hail, the triangularshaped lever secured at one end to the gates, and the cord lcadingfrom the opposite end of said lever to one end of the hand-lever, and the spring having one end secured to the tube and its opposite end pressing against the triangular-shaped lever, substantially as specifled.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIE J. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA B. WEBsTER, MAY HOLT. 

